Meaning & use

ad hoc

adjective·Academic

Created or done for a particular purpose as the need arises, rather than planned in advance.

See it in a sentence

The teachers formed an ad hoc committee to deal with the sudden change in the schedule.

We solved the problem with an ad hoc arrangement until a permanent fix could be found.

A note on using this word

Ad hoc is Latin for to this and is normally written as two words; it can act as both an adjective and an adverb.

Words with a similar meaning

improvisedmakeshift

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

plannedsystematic

Make it your own

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